Chelsea manager, Maurizio Sarri, has admitted his team is in “trouble” defensively, as Gary Cahill joins Antonio Rudiger on the injury list ahead of their Europa League semi-final against Frankfurt.
Rudiger will miss the end of the season, after suffering a knee injury during Chelsea’s Premier League 1-1 draw with Manchester United at the weekend.
The 26-year-old had surgery on his knee this week and Sarri expects the defender to be out for “at least three months”.
Club captain Cahill has also not travelled with the rest of the squad to Eintracht Frankfurt.
“Cahill is out… it’s a problem with the Achilles tendon. He is out for the moment. I hope to have him back in one week.
“But he is out so we are in trouble with the centre-backs. In training we played with [Cesar] Azpilicueta at centre-back, in case as he is the only one who can play there.
“It is normal it can happen. We have had a lot of games and been unlucky with injuries. Worried? A little.
“Rudi is out for at least three months, I spoke to him and he is disappointed.
“When you have a serious injury it is difficult to remain the same. He is very strong and will come back better than before,” Sarri told a press conference on Wednesday.
In better news for Chelsea, Sarri has confirmed Willian is fit to face Frankfurt despite hobbling off against United, after a late challenge from Marcos Rojo.
“Willian is okay, it was only a knock. So today in the morning he has been training. No other injuries, except of course Callum [Hudson-Odoi],” he added.
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